Sydney Grace Royal Gold Highlighter Review & Swatches
Royal Gold
Sydney Grace Royal Gold Highlighter ($12.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a rich, medium-dark gold with strong, warm yellow undertones and a metallic sheen. It was incredibly pigmented to the point where a little went a long way, and a lighter hand is highly recommended. The consistency was smooth, creamy, and dense without being stiff, though a moderately dense brush (like a tapered highlighting brush) worked best with this shade (over a fan brush or something in that vein). The powder blended out seamlessly on my skin, but it did emphasize my skin’s natural texture when worn at semi-opaque or greater coverage. It wore well for eight and a half hours before fading slightly on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- L'Oreal Golden (P, $12.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Too Faced You Light Up My Life (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Centre of Attention (Inner) (LE, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife (LE, $28.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Boss (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Apricot in the Act (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife (P, $36.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Guerlain Electric Look #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Where the Magic Happens (LE, $42.00) is less shimmery, more muted (85% similar).
- Anastasia Dripping in Gold (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$9.00/0.25 oz. - $36.00 Per Ounce
The highlighters are supposed to be "smooth and pigmented" that "blend like a dream" and "last all day long." The majority of the shades in the range are incredibly pigmented with a creaminess to the texture that makes them a cinch to apply and blend out on my skin.
I was most impressed by how soft, almost cream-like the powders were, yet they weren't too loosely-pressed nor were they prone to powderiness. Some of the finishes are very metallic or frosted, so when worn at semi-opaque or higher coverage levels, they can emphasize my skin's natural texture slightly. They have worn between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Sydney Grace Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Silk Mica (Mica (77019), Boron Nitride, L-Lysine Mica (Mica 77019 and Lauroyl Lysine), Caranuba Mica (Mica 77019 and Caranuba Wax), Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Myristate, Zinc Stearate ((+/- Mica (Mica 77019), Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Silk Powder, Allantoin, Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI77289), Chromium Green (CI77288), Carmine, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, 77491, 77492), Tin Oxide (CI 778161), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ultramarines (77007), Silica, *Synthetic Flurophylogopite, Zinc (CI 77947), Bronze and Copper Powder (CI 77400), Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol))
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Now that is one fiercely potent gold highlighter! And done quite well, I’d have to say. Very good to see that Sydney Grace has developed wonderful and very interesting shades of highlighters for EVERYONE. This sort of inclusivity is very encouraging!
I want to try their blushes/highlighters, I think. Would love if you plan on reviewing their blushes too!!
This highlighter looks fantastic!
Beautiful highlighter but way too dark for me and I think likely too dark for my daughter also. I am so glad the quality is good and I think this will look stunning on darker complexions.
KILLER.
I didn’t see this one on their website when I ordered a week ago but chances are I’m going to order again, so this is definitely going on the list… I love highlighters that can be used as blush or eye shades so much!
Wow – this looks more like an eyeshadow shade than a highlighter – but it is super goldy. A great rating.
Ha! Before I scrolled down to look at the dupes I thought “move over Trophy Wife!”
Then I did scroll down, then I looked at the dupe swatches, then I thought “Trophy Wife who?” 🙂
Lovely, thought it was an eyeshadow! Looks great as a highlighter!